Lloyd Rigler

{{Infobox person

| name = Lloyd E. Rigler

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| birth_name = Lloyd Eugene Rigler

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1915|05|03}}

| birth_place = Lehr, North Dakota, US

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2003|12|07|1915|05|03}}

| death_place = Los Angeles, California, US

| alma_mater = University of Illinois

| occupation = Businessman
Philanthropist

| years_active =

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}}

Lloyd Eugene Rigler (May 3, 1915{{spaced ndash}}December 7, 2003){{cite web| title=Lloyd E Rigler – United States Social Security Death Index| url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J1DW-SNL| website=FamilySearch| access-date=1 June 2015| url-access=subscription}}{{cite news| last1=Saxon| first1=Wolfgang| title=Lloyd E. Rigler, 88, Industrialist and Backer Of a Variety of Arts Groups Across the U.S.| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/12/13/arts/lloyd-e-rigler-88-industrialist-backer-variety-arts-groups-across-us.html| access-date=1 June 2015| newspaper=The New York Times| date=13 December 2003| url-access=subscription}} was an American businessman and philanthropist. Rigler and his partner Lawrence E. Deutsch made Adolph's Meat Tenderizer a national brand.{{cite news| title=Lloyd E. Rigler| url=https://variety.com/2004/scene/people-news/lloyd-e-rigler-1117897672/| access-date=1 June 2015| work=Variety| date=1 January 2004}} His most notable philanthropic effort was the 1994 establishment of the Classic Arts Showcase, a free, non-commercial television channel promoting the performing arts, film, and fine art.

Early life and education

Rigler was born in Lehr, North Dakota,{{cite book| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Jj5hbl1ZK0C&q=%22Lloyd+Rigler%22+jewish&pg=PT106| first=Paul| last=Zollo| title=Hollywood Remembered: An Oral History of Its Golden Age| publisher=Cooper Square Press| date=October 22, 2002| isbn=978-0-8154-1239-7}}{{cite web| title=Loyd Rigler – North Dakota Census, 1925|url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVRM-1BC6| website=FamilySearch| access-date=1 June 2015| url-access=subscription}} to Frank and Jeannette Rigler,{{cite web| title=North Dakota Census, 1925, McIntosh| url=https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-46482-10158-20?cc=2351024| via=FamilySearch| publisher=State Historical Society of North Dakota| access-date=1 June 2015| page=157| url-access=subscription}} who ran a general store serving the farming community in the town of Wishek, North Dakota, where the family lived. Rigler had five siblings.{{cite news| last1=Rourke| first1=Mary| title=Obituaries Lloyd E. Rigler, 88; He Made Fortune on Meat Tenderizer| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-dec-12-me-rigler12-story.html| access-date=1 June 2015| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=12 December 2003}}

As a young man, Rigler moved to Chicago, where he lived with relatives and worked to save money to attend the University of Illinois, from which he graduated in 1939.

Career

After graduating from college, Rigler moved to New York City to go into theater. To support himself, he worked as an interviewer for a marketing research agency and did the initial research for the Waring Blender. He later headed guest relations at RCA's exhibit introducing television at the New York World's Fair in 1940. After the fair, he trained as an RCA Victor Red Seal record promotion specialist. Rigler moved to Los Angeles a year later, and became a Los Angeles salesman for Decca Records.{{cite web| title=Lloyd E. Rigler's Vision| url=http://www.classicartsshowcase.org/founders-profile/| website=Classic Arts Showcase| access-date=November 17, 2018}}

In 1942, during World War II, Rigler enlisted in the US Navy, but due to poor vision in his left eye, spent the war in San Pedro, California.{{cite news| last1=Isenberg| first1=Barbara| title=Performing Arts: A Satellite to Save the Arts: Lloyd Rigler decided to use his fortune to spread culture all over the hemisphere, 24 hours a day, for free. But can 'Madama Butterfly' and Astaire really compete with R.E.M. and Madonna?| url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-07-16-ca-24313-story.html| access-date=1 June 2015| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date=16 July 1995}}

Lawrence E. Deutsch and Rigler met when Rigler was working in the food business: he leased space from Deutsch. They two men went into business together in the mid-1940s.

In 1948, Rigler and Deutsch, who died 1977,{{cite web| title=Lawrence E Deutsch – California Death Index| url=https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPHB-VQY| website=FamilySearch| access-date=1 June 2015| url-access=subscription}} bought the Adolph's recipe and name from Adolph Rempp, a chef and restaurant owner in Santa Barbara, California. They later sold the Adolph's brand to Unilever.

After the sale of their company, Deutsch and Rigler formed the Ledler Corporation, a venture capital firm.

= Philanthropy =

After Deutsch died, in 1977, Rigler formed a philanthropic foundation called the Lloyd E. Rigler–Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation.

In May 1994, Rigler founded Classic Arts Showcase, which allows people who haven't the financial resources to experience art and culture in person. The television channel provides a 24/7 experience for free. Prior to his death, Rigler funded the program to operate through at least 2022; the channel stated in 2020 that the foundation had enough money to run through at least 2040 with no outside funding sources. The signal of Classic Arts Showcase is not scrambled, so there is no authentication / access restriction, and there are no commercials.

In 1999, Rigler founded the American Association of Single People, which focuseds on political rights for single people.

Rigler's other philanthropic efforts included:

1980s: Joffrey Ballet – when it was located at the Los Angeles Music Center
1990s: Egyptian Theatre – restoration
American Cinematheque, Hollywood theaters
Los Angeles Music Center – Founding Donor
New York City Opera: Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors
Carnegie Hall - refurbishing {{cite news| url=http://artdaily.com/news/8252/Arts-Supporter-Lloyd-E--Rigler--88--Dies#.XZs65NXTWUk| title=Arts Supporter Lloyd E. Rigler, 88, Dies| website=ArtDaily.com| access-date=2019-10-07}}
Los Angeles County Museum of Arts- donations

Death

Rigler died of cancer on December 7, 2003, at age 88, at his home in Los Angeles.

References

External links

{{IMDb name|1003542}}
[http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt0b69r8c7/entire_text/ Guide to the Rigler–Deutsch Index (ARS.0105)] at Stanford University

Category:Activists from California

Category:American company founders

Category:American food industry businesspeople

Category:American manufacturing businesspeople

Category:American nonprofit executives

Category:Businesspeople from Chicago

Category:Businesspeople from Los Angeles

Category:Businesspeople from North Dakota

Category:20th-century American businesspeople

Category:Philanthropists from California

Category:1915 births

Category:2003 deaths